PHOTO: Families participate in the costume parade during the 3rd Annual West Seattle Harvest Festival, Oct. 26, on California Way. The event included the farmers market, the parade and trick or treating. Susan Fried photo

These meetings are the first two opportunities for community members to share ideas and offer feedback as the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (LHPAI) transitions from a city-run program to a non-profit organization. A community survey is forthcoming. The public meetings are part of a larger effort that includes a dozen focus groups, crafted to engage nearly 200 people including artists, collaborators, partners, arts leaders, parents and families, teens, current and former staff, local businesses, media and community leaders.

No reservations are necessary to attend. Adult supervision and activities will be provided for children ages 4 - 12.

King County 8th Graders Essay Contest on Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King County Civil Rights Commission invites all 8th grade students throughout the county to participate in the Commission's 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Writing Contest and present their ideas on Dr. King's legacy of peace and justice.

All essays must be postmarked by Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 and mailed to: King County Civil Rights Commission, 401 Fifth Ave., Suite 135, Seattle, WA 98104. For more information and full list of rules, contact Paula Harris-White, Department of Executive Services Equity and Social Justice Manager, at 206-263-2444.

The Essay Contest is open to all 8th grade students in King County. Three essays will receive prizes. First, second, and third prize winners will win trophies and a commemorative Dr. King pin.

Participants must submit an essay that focuses on the theme of the County's 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, set to take place on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 in downtown Seattle. This year's theme is: "So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind — it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact — I can only submit to the edict of others."

For more information go to www.kingcounty.gov/exec/news.

PHOTO: Last Thursday hundreds of Garfield supporters thronged outside the red-brick school in a rainstorm to protest a proposed teacher cut which – if carried out in mid-semester -- would have left an estimated 150 students suddenly without one class per day and could keep as many from graduating on time. Susan Fried photo

Entrepreneurship Program for Veterans Expands to Edmonds

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District Office is hosting “Boots to Business: Reboot” – a free entrepreneurship training program for veterans and their spouses – in Edmonds Nov. 4 and 5. The training is being offered in conjunction with SBA’s National Veterans Small Business Week Nov. 3-7.

The Reboot training will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the Edmonds Plaza Room.

The two-day program is instructor-led by subject matter experts from SBA resource partners. Participants learn business fundamentals and work through an initial feasibility analysis of their business concepts.

It's time for sizzling, sliming, oozing and mysterious mad science! The Seattle Public Library will host an Explore Your World science series for children ages 5 and up. Children will explore making fun chemical reactions. The events are offered at several Library locations in November.

Library events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Parking is available at the Library locations. See below for the program schedule.

For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or www.spl.org.

State Parks Offers ‘Free Day’ Nov. 11

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announces the final free day of 2014 is Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day. Visitors will not be required to display the Discover Pass to visit a state park.

The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on state-managed recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources. The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The Discover Pass is still required to access WDFW and DNR lands on State Parks free days.

The Discover Pass provides daytime access to parks. Overnight visitors are charged fees for camping and other overnight accommodations, and their daytime access to the park where they are camping is included in the overnight fee. The Discover Pass does not replace the Sno-Park permit requirement for visitors using Sno-Park winter recreation sites.

PHOTO:The Trinity Lutheran School Lady Tigers traveled to Coos Bay, Ore., for a 32 team volleyball tournament Oct. 10 -11. They played against some huge middle schools, and the Tigers took second place in the 3A bracket. Trinity faced some tough competition and won four matches to get to the finals. In the championship match, Trinity's group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders could not match the consistency of the Siuslaw Middle School team and lost in two sets. Despite that loss, the Lady Tigers played some great volleyball and were great representatives for Trinity Lutheran School and N.E. Portland. Photo courtesy Coach Don Seleski

'Invisible Young' Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Watch an award-winning documentary film about four young adults, all of whom lived on the Seattle streets as teenagers. After the film, stay for a panel discussion featuring director Steve Keller along with homeless and formerly-homeless youth. For teens and adults.

The 2014 Seattle Reads author Richard Blanco will read from his new, full-length memoir about growing up in Miami as the gay son of Cuban immigrants from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 at the Broadway Performance Hall of Seattle Central College, 1625 Broadway Seattle, 98122. (206-934-3052.)

In Blanco's memoir, "The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood," he explores his coming-of-age in a Cuban immigrant family and his attempts to understand his place in America while grappling with his burgeoning artistic and sexual identities.

Blanco was born in Madrid in 1968 and immigrated as an infant with his Cuban-exile family to the United States. He was raised and educated in Miami, earning a B.S. in civil engineering and a M.F.A. in creative writing from Florida International University. Blanco is practicing civil engineer, writer and poet, and teacher. His book "For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey" was the featured work for the Library’s 2014 Seattle Reads series.

Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Parking is available in nearby commercial lots and on the street.

This year’s honorees include Molly Neitzel, Chettie McAfee, Betsy Andrews, Josélito Lopez and Bonnie Roberts. Keynote speaker is former New York Times columnist and author, Bob Herbert, currently a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos which combines research, policy, development and advocacy to influence public debate and catalyze progressive change.